All routes lead snowbirds to Walton

Valerie and Jim Beall reflect on 25 years as snowbirds.

Special to The Sun

By Tom Mahar

Published: Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 12:19 PM.

It does not matter whether you approach the Emerald Coast from the west, a path that carries you across the Destin Bridge that breaks out into an eye-popping view of the East Pass or if you choose the Mid-Bay Bridge that affords a breath-taking view of Choctawhatchee Bay. It doesn’t even matter if instead you crossed Choctawhatchee Bay on U.S. Hwy. 331 because all routes leading to Walton County offer panoramic views of what many label paradise.

The Walton County Snowbirds, aware of the Emerald Coast’s captivating beauty and recreational potential, assist fellow snowbirds in taking advantage of the coasts many charms. For some, it begins with golf, for others it is fishing, tennis, basketball, or cycling. The snowbird club provides plenty of opportunity for those who favor outdoor activity as well as those who prefer a roof over their heads whether it is ballroom dancing, line dancing, crafts, art, bridge, euchre, computer club, singing, instrumentals, Pilates, or something else.

Check out activities at www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com/Activity_Listing.html and then register from 8:30-10:30 a.m. any Monday morning through the season (except Dec. 24; also, the registration scheduled for Dec. 31 was moved to

Those who missed the Walton County Snowbird General Meeting held Dec. 12 at Destin Life Center Building of the Destin United Methodist Church located at 200 Beach Drive in Destin won’t have long to wait for the next one which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 9, same place. Missing a general meeting is a guaranteed way to miss out on a chance to win valuable door prizes often worth mucho dinero at area restaurants, shops and golf courses and to miss a lot of fun because Entertainment Chair Al Francis rounds up the area’s liveliest entertainers. It is free — just show a membership card.

It seems natural to do the math when someone mentions having spent 25 years as a snowbird. Let’s see, if you retire at 65 then add 25 you get 90, which is exactly the age of Jim and Valerie Beall who met at Ohio’s Wittenberg University where they sang in the choir and began a romance that continues to this day. The couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last month. Valerie served as the Walton County Snowbird club secretary for many years and has for many more co-chaired the Book Discussion group that was, after golf, the first of nearly 40 activities sponsored by the club. She and fellow volunteer, Dee Trolian, continue to co-chair the group. For details about this season’s book selections and discussion dates visit www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com/Book_Discussions.html.

Snowbirds who sign on for Senior Aerobics with Sarah Vaillancourt have no need to worry about holiday calories. She knows how to melt them from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays or 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays at Faith Assembly Fellowship Hall. Here are two more calorie burners. Join Joe Wolschlag and friends at the Mainsail from 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays for a vigorous tennis match. For details email JaWolschlag@comcast.net. Prefer wheels? No problem, join the cyclists. Email sigmacats@aol.com for details.

It does not matter whether you approach the Emerald Coast from the west, a path that carries you across the Destin Bridge that breaks out into an eye-popping view of the East Pass or if you choose the Mid-Bay Bridge that affords a breath-taking view of Choctawhatchee Bay. It doesn’t even matter if instead you crossed Choctawhatchee Bay on U.S. Hwy. 331 because all routes leading to Walton County offer panoramic views of what many label paradise.

The Walton County Snowbirds, aware of the Emerald Coast’s captivating beauty and recreational potential, assist fellow snowbirds in taking advantage of the coasts many charms. For some, it begins with golf, for others it is fishing, tennis, basketball, or cycling. The snowbird club provides plenty of opportunity for those who favor outdoor activity as well as those who prefer a roof over their heads whether it is ballroom dancing, line dancing, crafts, art, bridge, euchre, computer club, singing, instrumentals, Pilates, or something else.

Check out activities at www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com/Activity_Listing.html and then register from 8:30-10:30 a.m. any Monday morning through the season (except Dec. 24; also, the registration scheduled for Dec. 31 was moved to

Those who missed the Walton County Snowbird General Meeting held Dec. 12 at Destin Life Center Building of the Destin United Methodist Church located at 200 Beach Drive in Destin won’t have long to wait for the next one which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 9, same place. Missing a general meeting is a guaranteed way to miss out on a chance to win valuable door prizes often worth mucho dinero at area restaurants, shops and golf courses and to miss a lot of fun because Entertainment Chair Al Francis rounds up the area’s liveliest entertainers. It is free — just show a membership card.

It seems natural to do the math when someone mentions having spent 25 years as a snowbird. Let’s see, if you retire at 65 then add 25 you get 90, which is exactly the age of Jim and Valerie Beall who met at Ohio’s Wittenberg University where they sang in the choir and began a romance that continues to this day. The couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last month. Valerie served as the Walton County Snowbird club secretary for many years and has for many more co-chaired the Book Discussion group that was, after golf, the first of nearly 40 activities sponsored by the club. She and fellow volunteer, Dee Trolian, continue to co-chair the group. For details about this season’s book selections and discussion dates visit www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com/Book_Discussions.html.

Snowbirds who sign on for Senior Aerobics with Sarah Vaillancourt have no need to worry about holiday calories. She knows how to melt them from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays or 1-2 p.m. Wednesdays at Faith Assembly Fellowship Hall. Here are two more calorie burners. Join Joe Wolschlag and friends at the Mainsail from 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays for a vigorous tennis match. For details email JaWolschlag@comcast.net. Prefer wheels? No problem, join the cyclists. Email sigmacats@aol.com for details.